diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/autoview/command.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/autoview/command.rs
index 8217e07878..fdd0e6814b 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/autoview/command.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/autoview/command.rs
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ pub async fn autoview(context: RunnableContext) -> Result<OutputStream, ShellErr
                                 ),
                                 nu_table::StyledString::new(
                                     format_leaf(value).plain_string(100_000),
-                                    nu_table::TextStyle::basic(),
+                                    nu_table::TextStyle::basic_left(),
                                 ),
                             ]);
                         }
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/command.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/command.rs
index a6e03edb2a..0d21275861 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/command.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/command.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ fn values_to_entries(
     let mut entries = vec![];
 
     if headers.is_empty() {
-        headers.push(StyledString::new("".to_string(), TextStyle::basic()));
+        headers.push(StyledString::new("".to_string(), TextStyle::basic_left()));
     }
 
     for (idx, value) in values.iter().enumerate() {
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/options.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/options.rs
index cf2bf1bac8..d6f09b80db 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/options.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/table/options.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 pub use nu_data::config::NuConfig;
 use nu_data::primitive::lookup_ansi_color_style;
-use nu_protocol::{UntaggedValue, Value};
-use nu_source::Tag;
-use nu_table::TextStyle;
+use nu_protocol::Value;
+use nu_table::{Alignment, TextStyle};
 use std::fmt::Debug;
 
 pub trait ConfigExtensions: Debug + Send {
@@ -27,21 +26,18 @@ pub fn header_alignment_from_value(align_value: Option<&Value>) -> nu_table::Ali
     }
 }
 
-pub fn get_color_from_key_and_subkey(config: &NuConfig, key: &str, subkey: &str) -> Value {
+pub fn get_color_from_key_and_subkey(config: &NuConfig, key: &str, subkey: &str) -> Option<Value> {
     let vars = config.vars.lock();
 
-    let mut v: Value =
-        UntaggedValue::Primitive(nu_protocol::Primitive::String("nocolor".to_string()))
-            .into_value(Tag::unknown());
     if let Some(config_vars) = vars.get(key) {
         for (kee, value) in config_vars.row_entries() {
             if kee == subkey {
-                v = value.to_owned();
+                return Some(value.clone());
             }
         }
     }
 
-    v
+    None
 }
 
 pub fn header_bold_from_value(bold_value: Option<&Value>) -> bool {
@@ -76,15 +72,22 @@ impl ConfigExtensions for NuConfig {
     fn header_style(&self) -> TextStyle {
         // FIXME: I agree, this is the long way around, please suggest and alternative.
         let head_color = get_color_from_key_and_subkey(self, "color_config", "header_color");
-        let head_color_style = lookup_ansi_color_style(
-            head_color
-                .as_string()
-                .unwrap_or_else(|_| "green".to_string()),
-        );
+        let head_color_style = match head_color {
+            Some(s) => {
+                lookup_ansi_color_style(s.as_string().unwrap_or_else(|_| "green".to_string()))
+            }
+            None => ansi_term::Color::Green.normal(),
+        };
         let head_bold = get_color_from_key_and_subkey(self, "color_config", "header_bold");
-        let head_bold_bool = header_bold_from_value(Some(&head_bold));
+        let head_bold_bool = match head_bold {
+            Some(b) => header_bold_from_value(Some(&b)),
+            None => true,
+        };
         let head_align = get_color_from_key_and_subkey(self, "color_config", "header_align");
-        let head_alignment = header_alignment_from_value(Some(&head_align));
+        let head_alignment = match head_align {
+            Some(a) => header_alignment_from_value(Some(&a)),
+            None => Alignment::Center,
+        };
 
         TextStyle::new()
             .alignment(head_alignment)
diff --git a/crates/nu-data/src/primitive.rs b/crates/nu-data/src/primitive.rs
index 429cbd4335..d84e77a8c9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-data/src/primitive.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-data/src/primitive.rs
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@ pub fn get_color_config() -> HashMap<String, Style> {
     hm.insert("primitive_path".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
     hm.insert("primitive_binary".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
     hm.insert("separator_color".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("header_align".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("header_color".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
-    hm.insert("header_bold".to_string(), Color::White.normal());
+    hm.insert("header_align".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
+    hm.insert("header_color".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
+    hm.insert("header_bold".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
     hm.insert("header_style".to_string(), Style::default());
-    hm.insert("index_color".to_string(), Color::Green.normal());
+    hm.insert("index_color".to_string(), Color::Green.bold());
 
     // populate hashmap from config values
     if let Ok(config) = crate::config::config(Tag::unknown()) {
@@ -228,135 +228,138 @@ pub fn style_primitive(primitive: &str, color_hm: &HashMap<String, Style>) -> Te
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::String");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Line" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Line");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "ColumnPath" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::ColumnPath");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Pattern" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Pattern");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Boolean" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Boolean");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Date" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Date");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Duration" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Duration");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Range" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Range");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Path" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Path");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Binary" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Binary");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "BeginningOfStream" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::BeginningOfStream");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "EndOfStream" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::EndOfStream");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "Nothing" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("Primitive::Nothing");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "separator_color" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("separator");
             match style {
                 Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                None => TextStyle::basic_left(),
             }
         }
         "header_align" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("header_align");
             match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Center, *s),
+                None => TextStyle::default_header(),
             }
         }
         "header_color" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("header_color");
             match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Center, *s),
+                None => TextStyle::default_header(),
             }
         }
         "header_bold" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("header_bold");
             match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Center, *s),
+                None => TextStyle::default_header(),
             }
         }
         "header_style" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("header_style");
             match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Center, *s),
+                None => TextStyle::default_header(),
             }
         }
         "index_color" => {
             let style = color_hm.get("index_color");
             match style {
-                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Left, *s),
-                None => TextStyle::basic_right(),
+                Some(s) => TextStyle::with_style(Alignment::Right, *s),
+                None => TextStyle::new()
+                    .alignment(Alignment::Right)
+                    .fg(Color::Green)
+                    .bold(Some(true)),
             }
         }
-        _ => TextStyle::basic(),
+        _ => TextStyle::basic_center(),
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs b/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs
index 742d2d4a03..292140ecbb 100644
--- a/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ pub fn style_leaf<'a>(
             let prim_type = str[0..paren_index].to_string();
             style_primitive(&prim_type, &color_hash_map)
         }
-        _ => TextStyle::basic(),
+        _ => TextStyle::basic_left(),
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/main.rs b/crates/nu-table/src/main.rs
index 5e4324e41d..ba1f2ec52f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/src/main.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ fn main() {
     let width = args[1].parse::<usize>().expect("Need a width in columns");
     let msg = args[2..]
         .iter()
-        .map(|x| StyledString::new(x.to_owned(), TextStyle::basic()))
+        .map(|x| StyledString::new(x.to_owned(), TextStyle::basic_left()))
         .collect();
 
     let t = Table::new(
diff --git a/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs b/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
index 5c5822190e..55815f2959 100644
--- a/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-table/src/table.rs
@@ -217,9 +217,9 @@ impl TextStyle {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn basic() -> TextStyle {
+    pub fn basic_center() -> TextStyle {
         TextStyle::new()
-            .alignment(Alignment::Left)
+            .alignment(Alignment::Center)
             .style(Style::default())
     }
 
@@ -229,6 +229,12 @@ impl TextStyle {
             .style(Style::default())
     }
 
+    pub fn basic_left() -> TextStyle {
+        TextStyle::new()
+            .alignment(Alignment::Left)
+            .style(Style::default())
+    }
+
     pub fn default_header() -> TextStyle {
         TextStyle::new()
             .alignment(Alignment::Center)